Tokyo Auto Salon - Lexus IS-F Circuit Club Sport Concepts Debuts

Here are a few snapshots of the Lexus IS F CCS (Circuit Club Sport) Concept car which was on display at the Tokyo auto salon this past weekend.

Dressed in a vibrant contrast of orange and black, the IS F CCS goes heavy on the carbon fiber. Or should we say "light". Much of the body has been rendered so, including the roof, rear wing and diffuser, front spoiler lip, the hood as well as the side mirrors. The interior also gets a do-over in carbon fiber, such as the center and lower consoles, gear stick, steering wheel trim and door panels. The IS F CCS is also fitted with two-tone bucket seats.

The weight reduction helps boost the performance of this 5.0 liter V8 enabled Lexus. That engines produces 423 hp in its Japanese market iteration. Additional performance enhancement comes by way of forged magnesium wheels wrapped in performance tires, carbon brake disks, sports suspension and a sport exhaust system with a titanium muffler.

But weight and track time figures Lexus has not yet provide. Nor, for that matter, is there any news on what Lexus plans, if anything, to do in the future with this concept.

Volkswagen's L1 Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept Returns 170mpg!

Volkswagen's L1 Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept Returns 170mpg!

The Frankfurt Motor Show marked the world debut of the new Volkswagen L1 Concept, a cigar-shaped diesel-electric hybrid that draws inspiration from Wolfsburg's original 1-litre concept car that was unveiled back in April 2002. Despite its name, the L1 actually burns a little over 1 lt at 1,38 liter of diesel for every 100 kilometers or about 170mpg US / 204.7mpg UK, while emitting just 39 g/km of CO2.

It may look weird, but the L1 is extremely aerodynamic featuring a co-efficient of drag figure of just 0.195 while the use of aluminium and carbon fibre materials in its construction results to a kerb weight of only 380kg or 830 pounds.

Measuring 3,813 mm in length, the L1 is about as long as a Polo, however at just 1,143 mm in height, it's as low as a Lamborghini Murcielago while its width, at just 1,200 mm, is narrower than any conventional car in the market today.

The concept model can seat two passengers in tandem, with the driver of course sitting up front. Both occupants enter the car through a side-hinging, electrically operated canopy.

Power is provided from a 0.8-liter diesel engine derived from the 1.6-litre TDI unit found in the new Golf BlueMotion and a 14-horsepower electric motor that engages either to take over from the diesel for short distances or to offer extra grunt when additional acceleration is required.

Volkswagen says that the L1 accelerates to 100km/h (62 mph) from rest in 14.3 seconds before reaching a maximum speed of 160km/h or 99 mph. Even though the L1 has a small 10-litre fuel tank, thanks to its extremely low fuel consumption, the driver can cover a distance (in theory always) of 725 kilometers or 450 miles between stops.

VW 1-Liter Concept - 2002

VW L1 Concept - 2009